Systems, methods, and devices for manipulation of images on tiled displays

ABSTRACT

In accordance with some embodiments of the inventions, a display system is disclosed for manipulation of images on tiled displays. The display system can include at least one discrete display device and a control module configured to allow a user to move a graphical representation of an image to a plurality of positions on the at least one discrete display device to thereby define a requested position. The control module can be configured to determine a difference between the requested position and a plurality of predetermined positions on the at least one discrete display device. The control module can also be configured to move and/or stretch the image toward one of the predetermined positions based on the determination of the determined difference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONS

Field of the Inventions

The present inventions relate to systems, methods and devices formanipulating images on displays, and more particularly, to themanipulation of images on a tiled display.

Description of the Related Art

Traditionally, personal computers and workstations are connected to oneor a small number of adjacent display devices, often LCD type monitors.Such systems can provide the user with the ability to view a largernumber of pixels than that typically displayable on a single monitor.

Commercially available computer systems can often support one or twomonitors for each video controller (sometimes constructed in the form ofa “video card”) connected to the system. For example, typical “PC”computer systems include several “expansion slots” which can acceptcertain types of video cards. Motherboards of some “PCs” are built withone or more PCI, PCI Express, AGP, etc., slots that can accept videocards. In this manner, a single computer can be provided with multiplevideo cards to increase the number of displays that can be controlled bythe computer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONS

An aspect of at least one of the inventions disclosed herein includesthe realization that the manipulation, including movement, zooming,stretching, etc. of an image on a tiled display can be enhanced byproviding for the automated adaptation of an image to physical and/orlogical boundaries associated with the display. For example, when a useris attempting to place a plurality of images onto a display so as toallow the user to see all of the images and at the same time effectivelyutilize the available space on the display, it can be time-consuming forthe user to individually place and resize all of the images to fill thedisplay as efficiently as possible. For example, if a user attempts toplace eight (8) images on a single display so that they do not overlapand are approximately the same size, a user may be required toindividually place each image on a position on the display and stretchor shrink the images so that all eight (8) images fit on a singledisplay.

Thus, in accordance with some embodiments disclosed herein, a system isconfigured to adjust at least one of the dimensional and positionalcharacteristics of an image on the display so as to conform to at leastone logical boundary of a display.

Another aspect of at least some of the embodiments disclosed hereinincludes the realization that the manipulation of images can be furthercomplicated when attempting to arrange one or more images on a tileddisplay. A tiled display can include a number of display units, such asmonitors or a display formed of a plurality of projection devices inwhich the entire display is formed of a plurality of individual displayunits positioned adjacent one another. As such, although the entiredisplay system can operate more or less as a single display unit, thephysical boundaries between each of the individual display units cancause some visual distortions.

For example, where a tiled display is made up of a plurality of LCD orplasma screen monitors, the physical boundaries of each display unit,referred to as the “bezel” generates a blank area within the overalldisplay. Similarly, due to imperfections in the alignment, focus,brightness, color balance or other display characteristics, a tiledarray formed of a plurality or projection units can also cause visualdistortions where the edges of the projected image meet each other.

Thus, in some embodiments, a system for manipulating an image on a tiledarray is configured to adapt at least one of the dimensional andpositional parameters of an image to conform to at least one of aphysical or logical boundary associated with the tiled display.

In some embodiments, a display system includes at least one discretedisplay device and a control module configured to allow a user to move agraphical representation of an image to a plurality of positions on theat least one discrete display device to thereby define a requestedposition. The control module can be further configured to determine adifference between the requested position and a plurality ofpredetermined positions on the at least one discrete display device andto move and/or stretch the image toward one of the predeterminedpositions based on the determination of the determined difference. Insome embodiments, the predetermined positions include fractionalportions of the at least one discrete display device.

In accordance with some embodiments, a method of positioning an image onan arrayed display system having a plurality of discrete display devicesdisposed adjacent one another includes receiving an input from a userdefining an initial image position of an image on the array in anorientation overlapping at least two of the discrete display devices,determining a quantitative proximity value representing a proximity ofat least a reference portion of the image and a reference portion of atleast one of the at least two discrete display devices, and displayingthe image in one of a plurality of different predetermined positionswhich are different than a position corresponding to the initialposition, based on the determined quantitative proximity value.

In some embodiments, a computer program stored in a computer readablemedia and configured to cause a computer to control the display ofimages on an arrayed display system including a plurality of discretedisplay devices disposed adjacent one another includes an image controlmodule configured to control the size and location of an image displayedon the arrayed display. The image control module can further include auser interface module configured to allow a user to input an imageposition request identifying a requested position of an image on thearray in an orientation overlapping at least two of the discrete displaydevices. The computer program can also include a relative positiondetermination module configured to determine a quantitative proximityvalue representing a proximity of at least a reference portion of theimage in a position on the arrayed display system corresponding to therequested position and a reference portion of at least one of the atleast two discrete display devices. The computer program can furtherinclude a position shift module configured to position the image on thearrayed display away from the requested position of the image toward oneof a plurality of predetermined positions based on the quantitativeproximity value determined by the relative position determinationmodule.

For purposes of summarizing the disclosure, certain aspects, advantagesand novel features of the inventions have been described herein. It isto be understood that not necessarily all such advantages can beachieved in accordance with any particular embodiment of the inventionsdisclosed herein. Thus, the inventions disclosed herein can be embodiedor carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage orgroup of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving otheradvantages as can be taught or suggested herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above-mentioned and other features of the inventions disclosedherein are described below with reference to the drawings of preferredembodiments. The illustrated embodiments are intended to illustrate, butnot to limit the inventions. The drawings contain the following Figures:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an embodiment of a system fordynamic management of data streams of image data to a display array.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating an embodiment of a method fordisplaying an image on an array display.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating another embodiment of a method fordisplaying an image on an array display.

FIG. 4 schematically illustrates an image overlapping two display unitsin an array display.

FIG. 5 schematically illustrates the image of FIG. 4 partitioned overtwo display units.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a tiled display and a control node, thecontrol node including a user interface having a schematicrepresentation of the tiled array including the physical boundaries ofeach of the display units forming the tiled display.

FIG. 7 is a schematic representation of an image displayed on a tileddisplay, formed of nine (9) display units.

FIG. 8 is a schematic representation of the image of FIG. 7 having beenstretched to conform to three (3) boundaries of the tiled display withthe original aspect ratio preserved.

FIG. 9 is a schematic representation of an image presented on a tileddisplay.

FIG. 10 is a schematic representation of the image of FIG. 9 having beenmoved and stretched to conform to the plurality of boundaries of thetiled display with the original aspect ratio preserved.

FIG. 11 is a schematic representation of an image represented on a tileddisplay overlapping a boundary of the tiled display.

FIG. 12 is a schematic representation of the image of FIG. 11 havingbeen moved and stretched to conform to three boundaries of the tileddisplay, with the original aspect ratio preserved.

FIG. 13 is another schematic representation of an image represented on atiled display and overlapping a boundary of the tiled display.

FIG. 14 is a schematic representation of the image from FIG. 13 havingbeen moved and stretched to conform to three (3) boundaries of the tileddisplay.

FIG. 15 is a schematic representation of an image represented on a tileddisplay and overlapping four (4) display units of the tiled display.

FIG. 16 is a schematic illustration of the image of FIG. 15 having beenmoved and stretched to conform to three (3) boundaries of the tileddisplay, with the original aspect ratio preserved.

FIG. 17 is a schematic illustration of an image represented on a tileddisplay, overlapping six (6) display units.

FIG. 18 is a schematic illustration of the image of FIG. 17 having beenmoved and stretched to conform to three (3) boundaries of the tileddisplay.

FIG. 19 is a schematic illustration of an image overlapping six (6)units of a tiled display.

FIG. 20 is a schematic representation of the image of FIG. 19 havingbeen moved and stretched to conform to three (3) boundaries of the tileddisplay, with the original aspect ratio preserved.

FIG. 21 is another schematic illustration of an image represented on thetiled display and overlapping six (6) units of the tiled display.

FIG. 22 is a schematic illustration of the image from FIG. 21 havingbeen moved and stretched to conform to three (3) boundaries of the tileddisplay, with the original aspect ratio preserved.

FIG. 23 is a schematic illustration of an image presented on a tileddisplay which is smaller than one of the display units of the tiledisplay.

FIG. 24 is a schematic illustration of the image of FIG. 23 having beenstretched to conform to a plurality of boundaries of the tile displaywithout the original aspect ratio being preserved.

FIG. 25 is a schematic illustration of an image represented on the tileddisplay and overlapping two (2) units of the tiled display.

FIG. 26 is a schematic representation of the image of FIG. 25 havingbeen moved and stretched to fill the two display units upon which theimage of FIG. 25 originally appeared, without the original aspect ratiobeing maintained.

FIG. 27 is a schematic illustration of an image represented on the tiledisplay, overlapping four (4) display units.

FIG. 28 is a schematic illustration of the image of FIG. 27 having beenmoved and stretched to fill the four (4) display units, without theoriginal aspect ratio being maintained.

FIG. 29 is a schematic illustration of an image represented on the tileddisplay and overlapping six (6) units.

FIG. 30 is a schematic representation of the image of FIG. 29 havingbeen moved and stretched to fill the entirety of all six (6) displayunits, without the original aspect ratio being maintained.

FIG. 31 is a schematic representation of an image displayed on a tileddisplay.

FIG. 32 is a schematic illustration of the image of FIG. 31 having beenresized to the closest boundary of the tiled display, with the originalaspect ratio being preserved.

FIG. 33 is a schematic illustration of an image represented on the tileddisplay and overlapping six (6) units of the tiled display.

FIG. 34 is a schematic illustration of the image of FIG. 33 having beenshrunk to the closest boundary of the tiled display, with the originalaspect ratio being preserved.

FIG. 35 is a schematic representation of an image represented on thetiled display and overlapping six (6) units of the tiled display.

FIG. 36 is a schematic representation of the image of FIG. 35 havingbeen moved and resized to conform to the closest boundary of the tileddisplay, with the original aspect ratio being preserved.

FIG. 37 is a schematic representation of an image represented on a tileddisplay and overlapping six (6) units of the tiled display.

FIG. 38 is a schematic representation of the image of FIG. 37 havingbeen stretched and moved to conform to the closest boundary of the tileddisplay.

FIG. 39 is a schematic representation of an image represented on thetiled display and overlapping six (6) units of the display.

FIG. 40 is a schematic illustration of the image of FIG. 39 having beenmoved and stretched to the closest boundaries of the tile display, withthe original aspect ratio being preserved.

FIG. 41 is a schematic illustration of an image represented on the tileddisplay and contained within one display unit.

FIG. 42 is a schematic illustration of the image of FIG. 41 having beenmoved and stretched to fill the closest boundaries of the tiled displaywithout preserving the original aspect ratio.

FIG. 43 is a schematic illustration of an image represented on the tileddisplay and overlapping two (2) display units.

FIG. 44 is a schematic illustration of the image of FIG. 43 having beenmoved and stretched to fill the closest boundaries of the tiled display,without preserving the original aspect ratio.

FIG. 45 is a schematic illustration of an image represented on the tileddisplay and overlapping four (4) display units.

FIG. 46 is a schematic illustration of the image of FIG. 45 having beenmoved and stretched to fill the closest boundaries of the tiled display.

FIG. 47 is a schematic illustration of an image represented on the tileddisplay and overlapping six (6) display units.

FIG. 48 is a schematic representation of the image of FIG. 47 havingbeen moved and shrunk to fill the closest boundaries of the tileddisplay.

FIG. 49 is a schematic illustration of an image represented on a tiledisplay and overlapping six (6) display units.

FIG. 50 is a schematic illustration of the image of FIG. 49 having beenmoved and stretched to fill the closest boundaries of the tiled display,without preserving the original aspect ratio.

FIG. 51 is a schematic representation of an image represented on a tileddisplay and overlapping nine (9) display units.

FIG. 52 is a schematic illustration of the image of FIG. 51 having beenmoved and stretched to fill the closest boundaries of the tiled display,without preserving the original aspect ratio.

FIG. 53 is a schematic illustration of an image represented on a tileddisplay having physical and logical boundaries, the image overlappingboth physical and logical boundaries.

FIG. 54 is a schematic illustration of the image of FIG. 53 having beenadjusted to fill a grid defined by logical boundaries.

FIG. 55 is a somatic illustration of a tiled display having bothphysical and logical boundaries and an image overlapping logicalboundaries.

FIG. 56 is a schematic illustration of the image of FIG. 55 having beenadjusted to fill a grid defined by both physical and logical boundaries.

FIG. 57 is a block diagram illustrating a control routine that can beused with the system illustrated in FIG. 1 to provide snappingfunctions.

FIG. 58 is a block diagram illustrating a control routine that can beused with the system of FIG. 1 to provide snapping functions.

FIG. 59 is a block diagram illustrating a control routine that can beused with the system of FIG. 1 to provide snapping functions.

FIG. 60 is a schematic diagram illustrating modules stored on a computerreadable medium that can be used with the system of FIG. 1 to providesnapping functions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

The present disclosure generally relates to array-type displays andmanipulation of an image, a stream of visual data, or the like on anarray-type display, such as a tiled display system. In some embodiments,a system that implements a highly interactive large image or paralleldisplay system can be used. In contrast to existing frameworks whereunnecessary parts of images are displayed or loaded in the memory of adisplay node, some embodiments of the present systems can calculatelimited portions of images to be displayed on a particular display node.This advantageously reduces the amount of data to be loaded on aparticular display node, and thus increases the responsiveness of theoverall tiled display. The system can thus allow updating and/ormovement of images around the tiled display at a faster rate.

Additionally, some embodiments disclosed herein can allow panning,zooming, rotating, color filtering, transparency controlling, and thelike of images and other visual data, including streaming data, videodata (e.g., movies), content received using screen sender technology,and/or other active content, on the tiled display, as well as otherfunctions. Some of the embodiments described below can accommodateviewing of multiple highly detailed images, which can exceed billions ofpixels, to be displayed as part of a high resolution, coordinatedworkspace on a tiled display. The in real-time or in near real-timeinteraction with the multiple image data, which can be received frommultiple image data sources, can include moving, zooming, rotating,color filtering, and transparency control of the images more quickly,such as described in U.S. Publication No. 2010/0123732, the entirecontent of which is incorporated herein by reference. Thus the systemcan be beneficial for viewing or visualizing various types of data, suchas medical, cancer cells, satellite, geosciences, oil monitoring,weather monitoring or prediction, astronomy, and the like.

Embodiments are described below with reference to the accompanyingfigures, wherein like numerals refer to like elements throughout. Theterminology used in the description presented herein is not intended tobe interpreted in any limited or restrictive manner, simply because itis being utilized in conjunction with a detailed description of certainspecific embodiments of the invention. Furthermore, embodiments of theinventions may include several novel features, no single one of which issolely responsible for its desirable attributes or which is essential topracticing the inventions herein described.

Also presented herein are methods, systems, devices, andcomputer-readable media for systems for dynamic management of datastreams updating displays. Additional details regarding systems fordynamic management of data streams updating displays are described inU.S. Publication No. 2010/0045594, the entire content of which isincorporated herein by reference. Some of the embodiments hereingenerally relate to presenting video image data on a tiled array ofdisplay units, thereby allowing the display of much larger images thancan be shown on a single display, such as described in U.S. PublicationNo. 2010/0123732, the entire content of which is incorporated herein byreference. Each such display unit can include a video image display, acommunication mechanism, such as a network interface card or wirelessinterface card, and a video image controller, such as a graphics card.Attached to the tiled display may be one or more computers or othersources of video image data. A workstation may also be coupled to thetiled display and to the user computers. Each of the computers candisplay data or images on the tiled display simultaneously. Since thetiled display is made up of multiple display units, the images from asingle user computer may be on multiple, separate individual displayunits. The images from multiple user computers could also be shown onthe same display unit and can overlap.

In some embodiments, initial connections between the a source of imagedata and the tiled display can be established through a “localworkstation”, for example, a computer disposed in front of the tiledarray. As such, a user can operate the primary workstation to controlthe tiled display. In other embodiments, one of the “nodes” of the tileddisplay can serve as the a controlling node with input devices, such asmice and keyboards, connected thereto for allowing a user to control theplacement and manipulation of images on the tiled display.

As described in more detail below, individual display units in the tileddisplay can subscribe to or connect to the image source, or vice versa,and therefore information can travel directly from the image source tothe designated display unit or “node” of the tiled display. This cantechnique can be used to reduce the amount of bandwidth needed and theamount of computation required for each display unit.

Additionally, in some embodiments, user interaction devices such as amouse or keyboard coupled to a workstation or another other clientdevice and can be used to manipulate or interact with images that aredisplayed on the tiled display. This interaction data is sent to thecorresponding client for updating its display device as well as therelated display units or “nodes” of the tiled display. Such systems andmethods can be useful when a user desires to display an image that islarger than a traditional display connected to a user computer canhandle.

The systems and methods described herein, along with the associatedFigures, illustrate example operating environments of use. As will bedescribed in greater detail below, these systems and methods may beimplemented using computing devices other than display devices. Toillustrate, in certain embodiments, the systems and methods generallyprovide functionality for a computing device to broker networkcommunications between two other computing devices. For example, acontrol computing device could broker a connection between a mediaserver and a destination computing device, which may be a display.Advantageously, in certain embodiments, the destination computing deviceand the media source device can communicate without passing any or allcommunication through the control computing device.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing of a plurality of display nodes 100A(including display nodes 100A, 100B, and 100N that are representative ofany quantity of display nodes) that are in communication with a network160 and other devices via the network 160, including an optional controlnode 102, which can also be referred to as a primary workstation in someembodiments. Visual data, such as video image data discussed below, canbe stored in any device connected to the network, including the nodes100N, the control node 102, or any other device. In some embodiments,original image data source 164 can be a mass storage device or computingsystem, also in communication with the network 160. In some embodiments,the tiled display system 100 comprises a single discrete display device(e.g., a projector or a standalone large display). In other embodiments,the tiled display system 100 comprises an array of discrete displaydevices or multiple arrayed display walls. In some embodiments, thetiled display system 100 comprises multiple arrayed display walls andone or more standalone display devices (e.g., “satellite” monitors).

Generally, the control node 102 can comprise one or more computingdevices that gather or make available information about the state of theoverall tiled display system 100, including display nodes 100, throughthe use of messages. For example, the control node 102 can include adesktop, laptop, tablet, netbook, handheld computing device (e.g., asmartphone or PDA), a server, or the like. In addition, the control node102 can function as a front end interface to the tiled display system100 that allows a user to interact with the overall system 100 bymanipulating the parallel display, for example.

Any of the display nodes 100N and control node 102 can be used toimplement certain systems and methods described herein. For example, insome embodiments, the display node 100A and control node 102 can beconfigured to manage the display of information on tiled displaysystems. The functionality provided for in the components and modules ofthe display node 100A and control node 102 can be combined into fewercomponents and modules or further separated into additional componentsand modules.

In some embodiments, the display node 100A can include, for example, acomputing device, such as a personal computer that is IBM, Macintosh, orLinux/Unix compatible. In some embodiments, the computing devicecomprises a server, a laptop computer, a cell phone, a personal digitalassistant, a kiosk, or an audio player, for example.

With continued reference to FIG. 1, although only exemplary componentsof the display node 100A are described in detail, it is to be understoodthat the descriptions of the display node 100A set forth herein alsoapply to the other nodes 100B, 100N.

In some embodiments, the display node 100A can include a centralprocessing unit (“CPU”) 105, which can include one or moremicroprocessors, graphics processors, digital signal processors, or thelike. The display node 100A can further include a memory 130, such asrandom access memory (“RAM”) for temporary storage of information and aread only memory (“ROM”) for permanent storage of information, and amass storage device 120, such as one or more hard drive, diskette,and/or optical media storage device. Typically, the modules of thedisplay node 100A are connected to the computer using a standards basedbus system. In different embodiments, the standards based bus systemcould be Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI), Microchannel, SCSI,Industrial Standard Architecture (ISA) and Extended ISA (EISA)architectures, for example.

The display node 100A can be controlled and coordinated by operatingsystem software, such as Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT, Windows2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Linux, SunOS, Solaris, a real-timeoperating system (RTOS), or other compatible operating systems. InMacintosh systems, the operating system may be any available operatingsystem, such as MAC OS X. In other embodiments, the display node 100Acan be controlled by a proprietary operating system. The operatingsystems can control and schedule computer processes for execution,perform memory management, provide file system, networking, and I/Oservices, and provide a user interface, such as a graphical userinterface (“GUI”), among other things.

The exemplary display node 100A can include one or more commonlyavailable input/output (I/O) devices and interfaces 110, such as akeyboard, mouse, touchpad, and printer. In addition, display node 100Acan include one or more display devices 166, such as a monitor, thatallows the visual presentation of data, such as the image data describedherein, to a user. More particularly, a display device provides for thepresentation of scientific data, GUIs, application software data, andmultimedia presentations, for example. The display node 100A can alsoinclude one or more multimedia devices 140, such as speakers, videocards, graphics accelerators, and microphones, for example.

In some embodiments, the I/O devices and interfaces 110 can provide acommunication interface to various external devices. The display node100A can be coupled to a network 160 that comprises one or more of aLAN, WAN, or the Internet, for example, via a wired, wireless, orcombination of wired and wireless, communication link 115. The network160 communicates with various computing devices and/or other electronicdevices via wired or wireless communication links.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1, display node 100A can include, or may becoupled to via a network connection, to a processed image data source162, such as a database, that includes information about one or moreimages to display. The information supplied by the processed image datasource 162 can include a full size or original image that was or will bepreprocessed and stored in a hierarchical format that includessub-images, with each sub-image being a reduced size version of theoriginal image. For example, a reduced resolution sub-image can begenerated from an original full resolution image by deleting rows andcolumns of the pixels of the original image at predetermined spacings,thereby generating a lower resolution version of the full image. Anyother known technique can also be used. The processed image data source162 can serve as a video image data source, as used in the descriptionset forth herein.

In some embodiments, the largest sub-image can be the same size as theoriginal image and/or include image content from the original image. Forexample, each sub-image can be stored as one or more blocks to allowrapid access to a particular part of the original image without havingto access entire rows. Of note, this can allow display node 100A tofetch exactly the level of detail (sub-image) it requires and/or toquickly fetch the needed blocks that make up the image tile to be placedon display 166. In addition to the devices that are illustrated in FIG.1, display node 100A can be connected to original image data source 164or computing devices through a bus or network 160.

Original image data source 164 can include one or more original or fullsize images that can be tens or hundreds of millions of pixels, or evenbillions of pixels. In some embodiments, display node 100A canpreprocess the original images stored in original image data source 164,store the result in a hierarchical format in processed image data source162, calculate the correct portion of original images to be displayed ona particular display node 100, and/or display the correspondingpreprocessed image data. Thus, the processed image data source 162 canbe used to reduce the amount of data that needs to be loaded in memoryand support faster manipulation of images.

Of note, the original images stored in original image data source 164can be compressed or uncompressed images. In some embodiments, theprocessed image data source 162 can also be configured to receive acompressed image from the original image data source 164. Once received,display node 100A can decompress an original image and then preprocessthe original image into a set of one or more images that are compressedor decompressed and store them in the processed image data source 162.Spatial identifiers can be used to identify various portions of theimages to facilitate extraction of different regions of the originalimage.

In some embodiments, one or more of the data sources may be implementedusing a relational database, such as Sybase, Oracle, CodeBase andMicrosoft® SQL Server as well as other types of databases such as, forexample, a flat file database, an entity-relationship database, anobject-oriented database, and/or a record-based database.

With continued reference to FIG. 1, in some embodiments the display node100A can also include application modules that can be executed by theCPU 105. In some embodiments, the application modules include the imageprocessing module 150 and image display module 155, which are discussedin further detail below. These modules can include, by way of example,hardware and/or software components, such as software components,object-oriented software components, class components and taskcomponents, processes, functions, attributes, procedures, subroutines,segments of program code, drivers, firmware, microcode, circuitry, data,databases, data structures, tables, arrays, and variables.

In some of the embodiments described herein, each display node 100A canbe configured to execute instructions in the image processing module150, among others, in order to support user interactivity by reducingthe amount of data loaded into memory when an image is to be displayedon the tiled display system. In addition, image processing module 150can be configured to allow portions of several images to be resident oneach display 166, thus supporting display and manipulation of multiplebig or original images across multiple display nodes 100. For example,in some embodiments, an original image can be tens of billions ofpixels. Image processing module 150 can preprocess and store in ahierarchical format multiple full size or original images by calculatingthe correct portion of the original images to be displayed on a specificdisplay node 100.

In certain embodiments, each original image can be stored in ahierarchical format that includes sub-images that can be reduced size orreduced resolution versions of the original image. In some embodiments,the largest sub-image can be the same size as the original image and/orinclude image content from the original image to support zoom in and/orout, for example. Image processing module 150 can then store eachsub-image of the original image as one or more blocks to allow rapidaccess to a particular part of the full size image without having toaccess entire rows or columns. This can advantageously allow a displaynode 100A that knows which portion of the original image is needed forits display 166 to fetch the level of detail needed, such as a sub-imageand/or to quickly fetch the needed blocks that make up the image tile.

Image processing module 150 can be further configured to send requeststo control node 102 for information about other display nodes (e.g.,100B, 100 c, etc.) and/or vice versa. In some embodiments, messages canbe exchanged between control node 102 and/or other display nodes thatinclude information about the state of the aggregate tiled display, or aparticular display node 100A, 100B, 100C, etc. The image processingmodule 150 and/or the control node 102 may communicate the messagesusing a web service or using proprietary protocols.

Display node 100A can also execute instructions in image display module155 to display one or more images or portions thereof and manipulate theimages. As noted above, an original image that is full size can bepreprocessed by image processing module 150 and then stored in processedimage data source 162. Because the amount of data loaded into memory 130can be reduced when an original image is stored in hierarchical format,image display module 155 can enable a highly interactive display spacethat spans multiple display nodes 100.

For example, image display module 155 can load the appropriate sub-imageof an original image in memory 130 and on display 166. In someembodiments, surrounding blocks and blocks from higher and lower levelscan also be pre-fetched for higher performance by image display module155. This may allow each display node 100A to support the display ofmore than one such image or portions thereof. Additionally, a resourcemanagement approach can support interactivity by reducing the amount ofdata loaded and allowing portions of several images to be resident oneach tile, thus supporting display and manipulation of multiple bigimages.

Advantageously, image display module 155 can be configured to allow theuse of multiple highly detailed image data, which can exceed billions ofpixels, to be displayed as part of a high resolution, coordinatedworkspace on a tiled display that includes multiple display nodes 100.Further, image display module 155 allows in real-time or in nearreal-time interaction with multiple images by allowing moving, zooming,rotating, color filtering, and transparency controlling of images ondisplay node 100.

For example, in some embodiments, the user may use a front endinterface, such as control node 102, and select to rotate an image onthe tiled display system. Image display module 155 can respond to theuser's selection, by using a reduced size or reduced resolution versionof the original image, which may be stored in the processed image datasource 162, to quickly adjust its display 166. For example, when theimage on the system is initially selected for rotation, the imagedisplay module 155 can replace the image being displayed with thereduced size or reduced resolution version during the rotation process.Plus, as the reduced size or reduced resolution version of the originalimage is rotated and thus redrawn at different angular orientations,less processing power is required to complete the redraw process,thereby providing a quicker response time.

In addition, image display module 155 may also exchange messages withcontrol node 102 or other display nodes 100A about the state of thetiled display, such as which portion of the original image are to bedisplayed by respective nodes. Thus image display module 155 can providea highly interactive experience that has numerous applications,including the manipulation of data about medical conditions, cancercells, satellite images, geosciences, oil monitoring, weather monitoringor prediction, astronomy, video gaming, and the like.

Although FIG. 1 has been described with respect to display nodes 100, acontrol node 102, and an image data source 164, certain of the featuresof the system shown in FIG. 1 can be implemented using other types ofcomputing devices communicating over the network 160. For example, thecontrol node 102 can communicate over the network 160 with a mediasource device (instead of the image data source 164) and one or moredestination computing devices (instead of the display nodes 100).

The control node 102 can broker a connection between the media sourcedevice and a destination computing device. In one embodiment, thecontrol node 102 locates media data stored on the media source deviceand obtains the media data or a portion thereof (such as a thumbnail)from the media source device. The control node 102 may then send themedia data or the portion thereof to the destination computing device,along with network communication or connectivity data. The networkcommunication data can enable the destination computing device tocommunicate with the media source device to obtain media data. Thenetwork communication data could include, for example, a network address(such as an IP address) of the media source device, a proxy for themedia source device, an anycast IP address for a plurality of mediasource devices, or the like.

Advantageously, in certain embodiments, providing the networkcommunication data from the control node 102 to the destinationcomputing device enables the destination computing device to obtainmedia, including media updates, from the media source device. As aresult, the control node 102 can be less of a bottleneck forcommunications between the media source device and the destinationcomputing device.

In an embodiment, the destination computing device can report orotherwise provide the media updates it receives or a portion thereof tothe control node 102. For example, the destination computing device canprovide a thumbnail, a reduced frame rate video, metadata associatedwith the media updates, combinations of the same, and the like. Thecontrol node 102 can therefore keep track of the media data provided tothe destination control device.

In another embodiment, the control node 102 can provide networkcommunication information to the media source device instead of or inaddition to providing communication information to the destinationcomputing device. This network communication information can allow themedia source device to communicate with the destination computingdevice. For example, the control node 102 can provide a network addressof the destination computing device to the media source device. Themedia source device can then push media to the destination computingdevice.

In still another embodiment, the control node 102 can identify mediastored on the media computing device without requesting the media. Thecontrol node 102 can provide network communication data to thedestination computing device, which allows the destination computingdevice to obtain the media from the media server. Thus, little or nomedia might pass through the control node 102 from the media sourcedevice to the destination computing device, further reducing bottleneckeffects of the control node 102.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a method ofpreprocessing images that can provide a high level of interaction andmanipulation of the images on tiled display systems. The methodillustrated in FIG. 2, as well as the other methods disclosed below, canbe stored as process instructions (for example on any type ofcomputer-readable storage medium) accessible by the image processingmodule 150 and/or other components of the display node 100A, the controlnode 102, or any other computer or system connected to the array 100directly or over any type of network. Depending on the embodiment,certain of the blocks described below may be removed, others may beadded, and the sequence of the blocks may be altered. The blocks of themethods and algorithms described in connection with the embodimentsdisclosed herein can be embodied directly in hardware, in a softwaremodule executed by a processor, or in a combination of the two.

Beginning in block 210, one or more full size images are received. Insome embodiments, the one or more full size images can be sent from theoriginal image data source 164 to display node 100 by way of the controlnode 102. The full size images can include various types of data forvisualization, such as still photographs, videos, or other images ofanything including but without limitation, medical, satellite,geosciences, oil, weather monitoring or prediction, astronomy imagery,and include those discussed above with reference to FIG. 1. As those ofskill in the art will recognize, the image types can vary greatly and bebased on a variety of possible types of data. The term “image,” as usedherein, in addition to having its ordinary meaning, refers to agraphical or visual representation of any kind of media, including bothstill and active graphical or visual content or data, such as stillimage data, streaming data, video data (e.g., movies), content receivedusing screen sender technology, applications windows (e.g., spreadsheetand word processing applications, etc.) and/or the like.

Moving to block 220, a set of sub-images that allow for rapid access toportions of the one or more full size images can be created. In someembodiments, the image processing module 150 preprocesses each originalfull size image and creates a set of sub-images that are a reduced sizeversion of the original image. These sub-images can also be referred toas “thumbnail” representations of the corresponding full resolutionimage. Further, the largest sub-image can be the same size as theoriginal image and/or include image content from the original image.

For example, a sub-image can be formed from a cropped portion of theoriginal image, at the same resolution of the original image.Additionally, such sub-images can be stretched to visually appear tocover approximately the same proportion of the corresponding nodes 100A,100 b, 100 c, etc, when the entire original image is displayed on thearray 100. The stretching may be performed by interpolating pixelvalues, for instance. These types of manipulation can be performed, forexample, on the control node 102. The term “stretch,” as used herein,refers to re-sizing the image with or without changing the originalaspect ratio. The term “zoom,” on the other hand, as used herein, refersto re-sizing the image without changing the original aspect ratio. Sucha use of sub-images can help the control node 102, or any computerforming the present method, to operate faster (e.g., redraw thesub-image after it has been moved or stretched) because the control node102 may not be required to redraw all of the pixels of the originalimage.

Moving to block 230, the set of sub-images can be stored in apreprocessed image data structure. In some embodiments, each sub-imagecan be stored in a hierarchical format, such that one or more blocksallow rapid access to a particular part of the image without having toaccess entire rows or columns. This hierarchical format can allow adisplay node 100A of the tiled system that knows the portion of an imageit needs to display to fetch exactly the level of detail, for example acorresponding sub-image, and/or to quickly fetch the needed blocks thatmake up the image tile.

FIG. 3 schematically illustrates an embodiment of another method ofdisplaying and manipulating images on a tiled display system, such asthe array 100. Depending on the embodiment, certain of the blocksdescribed below may be removed, others may be added, and the sequence ofthe blocks may be altered.

Beginning in block 310, a portion of a full size image to display on aparticular display node 100A can be calculated. Additionally, multipleportions of one or more full size images to display on the array 100 canalso be calculated. Advantageously, this reduces the amount of data tobe loaded on each particular display node 100, as well as a controllingcomputer, such as the control node 102, and thus increases theresponsiveness of the overall tiled display and the control node 102.Because of the increased responsiveness, manipulation of images on thearray 100 can be improved.

Moving to block 320, the one or more sub-images that correspond to theportion of the full size image to display are loaded into memory, forexample. Because disk access times for loading a large full size imagecan be impractical, each display node 100A can load blocks of theappropriate sub-images needed for its local portion of the overall tileddisplay. The correct portions of multiple full size images can also beloaded into memory of the corresponding display node 100A, 100B, 100C,etc.

Moving to block 330, the one or more sub-images can be displayed. Insome embodiments, the display node 100A may render the sub-imagesresident in memory 130 using a multimedia device 140, such as a videocard. The rendered sub-images can then be placed on display 166, such asa LCD monitor.

In some embodiments, one or more of the display nodes 100A, 100B, 100C,etc., can be configured to communicate and thereby receive image datadirectly from a video image source across a network, such as theoriginal image data source 164 across the network 160, which as notedabove, can be the Internet or another network, such as any localnetwork.

In some embodiments, the control node 102, which can be considered a“primary workstation”, can be configured to establish an initialconnection between itself and the tiled display 100 and between itselfand the original image data source 164. Additionally, the control node102 can be configured to facilitate providing connections directlybetween the original image data source 164 and the tiled display, forexample, directly with the display units 100A, 100B, 100C, etc.

FIGS. 4 and 5 schematically depict how an image can be displayed on oneor more display units 100A, 100B, 100C, 100D. As depicted in FIG. 4, avideo image 410 can be displayed in such a manner that it overlaps twodisplay units 100A and 100C. As further detailed in FIG. 5, if the array100 is only displaying an image on a limited number of the total numberof display units, such as only the units 100A and 100C, then theassociated video image data from the source can be selectively sent tothose display units 100A and 100C. This can help reduce bandwidthrequirements for transmission of image data.

For example, with continued reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, the video image410, when overlapping two display units, can be broken down into partscorresponding to those portions displayed on different units. As shownin FIG. 5, the image 410 can be segregated into a first portion 411(displayed on display unit 100) and a second portion 412 (displayed ondisplay unit 100C). As such, in some embodiments, the array 100 can beconfigured to send the video image data corresponding to the portion 411to the display unit 100A and the other video image data corresponding tothe portion 412 to the display unit 100C, along with data indicating theposition at which these portions 411, 412 should be displayed.

As such, all of the video image data corresponding to the entire image410 does not need to be sent to the other display units. Rather, in someembodiments, the array 100 can be configured to only send video imagedata to a display unit in the array 100, corresponding to the part of avideo image being displayed on that corresponding display unit. This cangreatly reduce the magnitude of data flowing into and out of the array100, and more particularly, each of the display units 100A, 100B, 100C,100D. Additionally, such selective distribution or routing of data canfurther aid in reducing the magnitude of data flowing through each ofthe display units 100N and the associated network can be realized wherean image being displayed on the array 100 is updated, such as whenmonitoring data, videos, etc.

With reference to FIG. 6, some issues can arise when attempting tocontrol the position of an image, such as the image 410 on the display100 by way of the control node 102. For example, in some embodiments,the control node 102 can be configured to generate a schematicrepresentation of the display units 100A, 100B, 100C, etc., for use as agraphical user interface. As shown in the lower portion of FIG. 6, theimage 410 can be displayed both on the display 100 and the display node102. The representation of the image 410 on the control node 102 can bein the form of a reduced resolution version of the image 410, a fullresolution version, a thumbnail version, or other versions.

In some embodiments, the control node 102 can include a display device,such as a typical commercially available computer monitor. Such computermonitors can have any amount of resolution. However, in someembodiments, the resolution of the display of the control node 102 willbe significantly less than the total resolution of the display 100including all the individual display units 100A, 100B, etc.

Thus, the map 500 schematically representing the display 100 can bedrawn to provide an approximation of the proportions of the display 100.For example, if the display 100 provides a total of 19,200 pixels wideby 10,800 high, the display unit of the control node 102 might include1/10^(th) of that resolution, i.e., 1,920 pixels wide by 1,080 pixelshigh, or other resolutions.

Thus, the display of the control node 102 may be configured to representonly 1/10^(th) of the pixels available on the display 100. Thus, if auser attempts to move the image 410 on the control node by only a singlepixel to the left or, to the right, up or down, this would translateinto a movement of 10 pixels across the display 100. As such, it can bedifficult for a user to move an image 410 to precisely the desiredposition on the display 100, using only the display of the control node102.

This effect can also make it more difficult to arrange a plurality ofimages in a way so as to maximize the number of pixels utilized on thedisplay 100 and/or avoid, to the extent possible, having the image 410overlap the physical boundaries between the individual units 100A, 100B,etc.

Thus, in some embodiments, the array 100 can be configured toautomatically adjust positional and/or proportional characteristics ofthe image 410 to conform to boundaries of the display 100. As usedherein, the term “boundaries of the display” can include physicalboundaries or logical boundaries. In this context, where the display 100is formed of a plurality of individual display units: 100A, 100B, etc.,which include bezels at the edges of each of the individual displays.The physical boundaries correspond to the edges of the display units.Logical boundaries of the display can include predetermined subdivisionsof one (1) or more the individual display units: 100A, 100B, 100C, etc.For example, each of the display units can be subdivided into uniform ornon-uniform portions, such as, for example, but without limitation,halves, quarters, eighths, sixteenths, etc.

Thus, in some embodiments, the array 100 can be configured to comparethe size of the image 410 relative to the size of grids defined byphysical and/or logical boundaries of the array 100 and to provide theuser with predetermined functions for moving, stretching or shrinking,with or without preserving the original aspect ratio of the image 410,to a grid defined by physical and/or logical boundaries of the display100. Such a predetermined function is referred to as a “snappingfunction” in the description set forth herein.

For example, with reference to FIG. 7, the image 410 is represented onthe array 100, positioned slightly to the left of the center on thedisplay unit 100D of the tiled display 100. In the description set forthbelow of FIGS. 7-52, a reduced sized version of the display 100 isillustrated as having nine (9) display units 100A-100O, solely tosimplify the description. It is to be understood that the features,devices, methods, and systems associated with the following descriptionwith the associated description of these figures can be applied to anysize display, including any size tiled display. The initial position ofthe image 410 can be the position that the user first places the image410 on the display 100. This initial position can also be referred to asa “requested position”.

As noted above, the display 100 can be configured to allow a user toactivate one (1) or a plurality of predetermined functions to change theposition and/or size of the image 410, were for due herein, as notedabove, as a “snapping function”. Such functions can be triggered by anykeystroke, button actuation, or combinations thereof, such as, forexample, but without limitation, double-clicks, right-clicking,double-right clicking, hot keys assigned to the keyboard, menuselection, touch screen, voice activation, remote control, orautomatically when a user resizes or repositions an image on the display100, or other mouse or keyboard buttons.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 7, upon actuation of thepredetermined function, the image 410 is increased in size to conform toone (1) or more boundaries of the next largest grid. In this example,the next largest grid is defined by the physical boundaries of thedisplay node 100D. Thus, the image 410 is moved and stretched such thatits upper edge 520, its left edge 522, and its bottom edge 524 aredisposed at or close to the physical boundaries of the display unit100D. In this example, the original aspect ratio of the image 410 ispreserved. Thus, the right edge 526 is disposed in accordance with theoriginal aspect ratio of the image 410, resulting from the stretching ofthe original image 410 until it has the same vertical dimension as thedisplay unit 100D, thereby allowing the three (3) edges, 520, 522, and524 to conform to the upper, left side and bottom edge of the displayunit 100D, respectively.

In some embodiments, the display 100 can be configured to decide whetherto shift the image 410 to the left or to the right based upon theposition of the center of the image 410. In some embodiments, thisdecision can be performed by an image manipulator module, describedbelow in greater detail with reference to FIG. 60. In the illustratedexample of FIG. 7, the center of the image 410 is slightly to the leftof the center of the display unit 100D. In this example, the center ofthe image 410 can serve as a reference portion of the image 410. Thus,in this embodiment, the display 100 calculates the required enlargementof the image 410 to cause the image 410 to result in a vertical sizeequal to that of the display unit 100D and additionally repositions theimage 410 so that the left edge of the image 522 coincides with the leftedge of the display unit 100D.

In some embodiments, the display 100 can be configured to perform thecalculations based on the size (for example, in pixels) of the image 410presently displayed on the display 100 and in comparison to the numberof pixels available on the display unit 100D. In other embodiments, thedisplay 100 can be configured to perform the calculations based on theposition of the image 410 as represented on the map 500 (FIG. 6,displayed on the control mode 102), or using other techniques.

In the example illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, the image 410 isoriginally placed to the right of the center of display unit 100D. Thus,upon actuation of the snap function, the image 410 is resized such thatits upper edge 520, lower edge 524, and right edge 526 conform to theupper, lower, and right edges of the display unit 100D, respectively.Additionally, as noted above, the original aspect ratio of the image 410of FIG. 9 is preserved in the enlarged and shifted presentation of theimage 410 in FIG. 10.

Although the above described examples of FIGS. 7-10 are described in thecontext of the edges of the individual display units 100D as providingboundaries of a grid, the grids noted above could also be defined bypredefined portions of the individual display units 100A, 100B, 100C,etc, including logical boundaries described above.

FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate an example where a user places the originalimage 410 overlapping display units 100B and 100D. As shown in FIG. 11,the majority of the original image 410 is disposed on display unit 100D.Thus, upon actuation of the snapping function, the image 410 isenlarged, firstly, to fill the entirety of the display unit 100D withthe remainder in display unit 100B.

More particularly, the image 410 is enlarged such that its left sideedge 522, bottom edge 524 and right edge 526 conform to the left, bottomand right side edges of the display unit 100D. The position of the topedge 520 of image 410 is the result of stretching the image 410,maintaining its original aspect ratio, until the edges 522, 524, 526conform to the corresponding edges of the display unit 100D, explainedabove. Similar to the above examples FIGS. 7-10, the display 100 can beconfigured to determine which of the boundaries shall be used initiallyto control the resizing of the image 410. Similarly to the aboveexamples, as illustrated in FIG. 11, the majority of the image 410 isdisposed on the display unit 100D. Thus, the boundaries of the displayunit 100D are used as the initial boundaries for resizing andrepositioning the image 410.

In the example illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14, the original image 410 isplaced with a majority thereof on display unit 100B and overlappingpartially onto display unit 100D. Thus, when the snap function isactuated, the image 410 is repositioned and stretched so that the topedge 520, left edge 522, and right edge 526 of the image 410 conform tothe top, left, and right side edges of the display unit 100B.Additionally, the bottom edge 524 of the image 410 is positioned inaccordance with the result of stretching the image 410 to conform to thetop, left, and right side edges of the display unit 100B. As notedabove, in these examples, the original aspect ratio of the image 410 ispreserved.

With reference to FIG. 15, in this example, the image 410 is placed soas to overlap four (4) display units 100A, 100B, 100C, 100D, with themajority of the image 410 overlapping display units 100B and 100D, andwith the center of the image 410 close to the boundary between displayunits 100B, 100D. In this example, as illustrated in FIG. 16, the image410 is enlarged to fill the full height of the combination of displayunits 100B and 100D, and is right justified to the right edges of thedisplay units 100B, 100D. As such, the top edge 520 of the image 410conforms to the top edge of the display unit 100B. The bottom edge 524of the image 410 conforms to the bottom edge of the display unit 100Dand the right edge 526 of the image 410 falls along the right edges ofthe display units 100B and 100D. In this example, the original aspectratio of the image 410 is preserved, and thus, the left edge 522 ispositioned in accordance with the result of the enlargement of the top,right, and bottom edges, 520, 526, 524 of the image 410 to the top edgeof the display unit 100B, the right edges of the display units 100B and100D, and the bottom edge of the display unit 100D, respectively.

In some embodiments, the display 100 can be configured to automaticallystretch in a direction, and in this example, the vertical direction, tofill two (2) grids if the center of the original image 410 is within apredetermined number of pixels of the boundary between the two (2)display units, in this example, 100B and 100D. In other embodiments, thedisplay 100 can be configured to calculate the rows of pixels within apredetermined range of rows of pixels around the center row of the image410. In some embodiments, the display 100 can be configured to determineif a boundary between two (2) displays, such as the display units 100B,110, fall within the range of rows of pixels in the center of the image410. If this determination is true, then the display 100 can beconfigured to determine that the associated boundaries to be used forstretching the image 410 will be the top of the display 100B and thebottom of the display 100D.

Additionally, the display 100 can be configured to determine which ofthe left or right edges of the involved display units should be used forjustification of the stretched image. In the above example, because thecenter of the image 410 is disposed on the right side display units100B, 100D, the right side edge 526, of the image 410 is justified tothe right edges of the display units 100B, 100D. However, othertechniques can be used for determining in which directions the image 410is moved and in which directions the image 410 is stretched.

With reference to FIG. 17, in this example, the image 410 is originallyplaced as overlapping six (6) screens, with the center of the image 410slightly to the left of the center of the display 100. Thus, in thisexample, as illustrated in FIG. 18, the image 410 is stretched to fillthe full height of three (3) displays in the vertical direction and isleft justified, for example, because the center of the image 410 isdisposed on the left side of the center of the entire array of thedisplay units. In this example, the original aspect ratio of the image410 is preserved and thus the right side edge 526 of the image 410 ispositioned in accordance with a result of stretching the image 410 suchthat the top edge 520 conforms to the top edge of the display units100A, 100B, the bottom edge 524 of the image 410 conform to the bottomedge of the display devices 100E, 100F, and the left side edge 522 ofthe image 410 conforms to the left side edges of the display devices100A, 100C and 100E.

With reference to FIG. 19, in this example, the original image 410 ispositioned as overlapping nine (9) of the display units and with thecenter of the image 410 slightly to the right of the center of thedisplay 100. In this example, as illustrated in FIG. 20, the image 410is stretched to the full height of three (3) of the display units and isright justified, for example, because the center of the image 410 isslightly to the right of the center of the display 100.

In another example, as illustrated in FIGS. 21 and 22, the originalimage 410 is positioned in the same arrangement as in FIG. 19, with thecenter of the image 410 slightly to the right of the center of thedisplay 100 and overlapping nine (9) display units. In this example, theimage 410 is stretched to the full height of three (3) display units andbecause the left edge 522 of the image 410 is closer to the left edge tothe display units 100B, 100D and 100F, as compared to the distancebetween the right edge 526 of the image 410, and the right edges of thedisplay units 100B, 100D, 100F. The image 410 is left justified (FIG.22), with the left edge of the image 410 conforming to the left edges ofthe display units 100B, 100D, 100F. Further, in this example, the rightedge 526 of the image 410 is positioned in accordance with the result ofstretching the image 410 to conform to the top and bottom edges of thedisplay 100 and with the left edge 522 justified to the left edges ofthe display units 100B, 100D, 100F with the original aspect ratio of theimage 410 preserved.

In some embodiments, a snapping technique can be configured to stretchan image so as to fill physical or logical boundaries or grids, withoutmaintaining the original aspect ratio. For example, in the example ofFIGS. 23 and 24, the original image 410 is disposed entirely within thedisplay unit 100D. As shown in FIG. 24, the image 410 is stretched tofill the entire display unit 100D, in both horizontal and verticaldirections, to completely fill the display unit 100D, withoutmaintaining the aspect ratio of the original image 410. As such, theimage 410 can be stretched in this manner with any known technique.

In the example in FIGS. 25 and 26, the original image 410 is positionedso as to overlap the display units 100B and 100D. In this example, theimage 410 is stretched to completely fill both of the display units 100Band 100D.

Similarly, in the example of FIGS. 27 and 28, the original image 410 ispositioned so as to overlap the display units 100A, 100B, 100C and 100D.In this example, as shown in FIG. 28, the original image 410 isstretched to fill the entirety of display units 100A, 100B, 100C, 100D,regardless of the original aspect ratio of the image 410.

Further, as shown in the example of FIGS. 29 and 30, the original image410 is positioned so as to overlap all of the display units of thedisplay 100. In this example, as shown in FIG. 30, the image 410, isstretched to fill the entirety of all the display units of the display100, regardless of the original aspect ratio of the image 410.

In some embodiments, the display 100 can be configured to determine whatgrid, which may be made up of physical and/or logical boundaries, isclosest to the size and/or position of the original image, and toautomatically adjust the positional and/or proportions of the image toconform to the nearest sized grid resulting from the determination, forexample, whether the closest grid is smaller or larger than the originalimage.

For example, with reference to the example of FIGS. 31 and 32, theoriginal image 410 is placed within the display unit 100D, slightly tothe left of the center of the display unit 100D. In this example, thedisplay 100 is configured to determine which of the edges of the image410 are closest to any predefined grids that can be defined by physicaland/or logical boundaries. In the illustrated example, the closestboundaries are the physical boundaries of the display unit 100D,including its top, left, and bottom edges. Thus, in this example, theimage 410 is stretched such that the top edge 520, left edge 522, andbottom edge 524 of the image 410 conform to the top, left, and bottomedges of the display unit 100D. The position of the right edge 526 isthe result of the stretching of the image 410 to fill the verticalheight and left justify the image 410 within the display 100D whilepreserving the aspect ratio.

In the example of FIGS. 33 and 34, the image 410 is shrunk because theclosest grid is defined by the top, left, and bottom edges of thedisplay unit 100D. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 33, the originalimage 410 is disposed in the display 100 at a position overlapping thedisplay units 100A, 100B, 100C, 100D, 100E, and 100F. However, the topedge 520, left edge 522, and bottom edge 524 of the image 410 areclosest to the top, left, and bottom edge of the display unit 100D, thanany other physical or logical boundaries in this example. Thus, as shownin FIG. 34, the image 410 is shrunk to fill the vertical height of thedisplay unit 100D and shifted to be left justified within the displayunit 100D. The position of the right edge of the image 410 is the sameas that described above with to FIG. 32.

Similarly, with reference to the example of FIGS. 35 and 36, theoriginal image 410 is disposed so as to overlap the display units 100A,100B, 100C, 100D, 100E, and 100F. In this example, the left edge 522,the bottom edge 524, and the right edge 526 of the image 410 are closestto the left edges of the display units 100B, 100D, the bottom edge ofthe display unit 100D and the right edges of the display units 100B,100D, respectively. Thus, the image 410 is repositioned such that theedges 522, 524, 526, conform to the left edges of the display units100B, 100D, the bottom edge of the display unit 100B, and the rightedges of the display units 100B, 100D. The position of the top edge 520of the image 410 results from the repositioning and stretching of theimage 410 into this position while maintaining the original aspect ratioof the original image 410.

Similarly, with regard to the example of FIGS. 37 and 38, the originalimage 410 is positioned on the display 100 overlapping display units100A, 100B, 100C, 100D, 100E, and 100F. In this example, the top edge520, left edge 522, and bottom edge 524 are closest to the physicaland/or logical boundaries of the display unit 100. In this example,those edges being the top edges of display units 100A, 100B, the leftedges of display units 100A, 100C, 100E and the bottom edges of displayunits 100E, 100F. Thus, as shown in FIG. 38, the image 410 isrepositioned and stretched such that the top edge 520 conforms to thetop edges of the display units 100A, 100B, the left edge 522 of theimage 410 is left justified so as to conform to the left edges of thedisplay units 100A, 100C, 100E and the bottom edge 524 of the image 410conform to the bottom edges of the display units 100E and 100F. Theposition of the right edge 526 of the image 410 is a result of themovement and stretching of the image 410 into this position whilemaintaining its original aspect ratio.

Further, with regard to the example illustrated in FIGS. 39 and 40, theoriginal image 410 is placed so as to overlap the display units 100A,100B, 100C, 100D, 100E, and 100F. In this example, the top edge 520,right edge 526, and bottom edge 524 of the image 410 are the closestedges to the physical boundaries defined by the top edges of the displayunits 100A, 100B, the right edges of the display units 100B, 100D, 100F,and the bottom edges of the display units 100E and 100F. As such, theimage 410 is shifted and stretched such that the top edge 520, rightside edge 526 and bottom edge 524 conform to those physical boundaries.The resulting position of the left edge 522 is the result of the image410 being stretched to this position and shape while maintaining theoriginal aspect ratio.

In some embodiments, the image 410 can be shifted and/or stretched forconform to the nearest physical or logical boundaries, without regard toits original aspect ratio.

For example, with regard to the example illustrated in FIGS. 41 and 42,the original image is disposed entirely within the display unit 100D. Inthis example, the physical and/or logical boundaries of the display 100that are closest to the edges 520, 522, 524, 526, are the correspondingtop, left, bottom and right side edges of the display unit 100D. Thus,as shown in FIG. 42, the image 410 is stretched to fill the entirety ofthe display unit 100D, without preserving the original aspect ratio ofthe image 410.

As shown in the examples of FIGS. 43, and 44, the original image 410 isdisposed in a position overlapping the display units 100B and 100D.However, in this example, as in the example of FIGS. 41 and 42, thephysical and/or logical boundaries of the display 100 that are closestto the edges 520, 522, 524, 526 of the original image 410 are also thetop, left, bottom and right side edges of the display unit 100D,respectively. Thus, as in the example of FIGS. 41 and 42, the image 410is stretched to fill the entirety of the display unit 100D, regardlessof the original aspect ratio of the image 410.

With regard to the example of FIGS. 45 and 46, the original image 410 ispositioned so as to overlap the display units 100A, 100B, 100C, and100D. In this example, the closest and/or logical boundaries to theedges, 520, 522, 524, 526 of the image 410 are the top edge of thedisplay unit 100B, the left edges of the display units 100B, 100D, thebottom edge of the display unit 100D, and the right edge of the displayunits 100D and 100B. Thus, as a result of this snapping function, theoriginal image is stretched such that the edges 520, 522, 524, 526thereof conform to the top edge of the display unit 100B, the left edgesof the display units 100B, 100D, the bottom edge of the display unit100D, and the right edges of the display units 100B, 100D.

In the examples of FIGS. 47 and 48, the original image 410 is positionedso as to overlap all nine (9) of the display units. In this example, thephysical and/or logical boundaries of the display 100 which are closestto the top edge 520, left edge 522, bottom edge 524, and right edge 526of the image 410 are the top edge of the display, the left edges of thedisplay units 100B, 100D, 100F, the bottom edge of the display 100, andthe right side edges of the display units 100B, 100D and 100F. Thus, asshown in FIG. 48, the image 410 is stretched in the vertical directionand shrunk in the horizontal direction to conform to these edges.

In a similar manner, the image 410 of FIG. 49 is stretched such that theedges 520, 522, 524, and 526 of the original image 410 conform to theclosest physical and/or logical boundaries, which in this example, arethe top edges of the display units 100B, 100I, the right edges of thedisplay units 100B, 100D, 100F, the bottom edges of the display units100F, 100O, and the right side edges of the display units 100I, 100L and100O.

Finally, in the example of FIGS. 51 and 52, the image 410 is originallypositioned to fill the full vertical height of the display 100 and withits left edge 522 closest to the left edges of the display units 100B,100D, and 100I, and with its right edge 526, closest to the right edgesof the display units 100I, 100L, 100O. Thus, as shown in FIG. 52, theedges 522 and 526 are moved to those closest boundaries noted above.

In these above embodiments of FIGS. 41 to 52, the determination of howto stretch the original image 410 to conform to the physical and/orlogical boundaries can be based on the determination of the distancebetween each edge of the image 410 and the closest physical and/orlogical boundary parallel to that edge. This is because, in theseembodiments, the original aspect ratio of the image 410 is notpreserved.

In the other embodiments, noted above, where the aspect ratio ispreserved, the determination of which boundaries, which physical and/orlogical boundaries, should be used to determine the extent to which theimages expanded or shrunk, can be based on the closest three (3) edges,leaving the position of the fourth edge to be determined by the resultof stretching the image while preserving the original aspect ratio.However, other techniques can also be used.

Additionally, the display 100 can include a user interface to provideadjustability so as to allow the user to chose the techniques forsnapping an image to the nearest physical or logical boundaries. Forexample, such a user interface can allow a user to choose to snap imagesto the next larger, the next smaller, the closest boundary.Additionally, the user interface can allow a user to choose to stretchto only physical boundaries, only certain logical boundaries such asone-half (½), one quarter (¼), one eighth (⅛), one sixteenth ( 1/16),etc., or any fraction of one (1) or more display units. Additionally,such a user interface can allow a user to conduct determinations basedon the location of the center of the original image. For example, if thecenter of an original, such as the original image 410 described abovedisposed toward the left, the right, above, or below, a center of thedisplay or the center a display unit on which a portion of the originalimage 410 is disposed, the display 100 can use that determination todetermine whether the original image should be justified to the left, tothe right, to the top, or to the bottom, of the associated display,and/or display unit.

As illustrated in the examples of FIGS. 52 and 54, the display 100, inthis example including display units 100A, 100B, 100C and 100D, includesadditional logical boundaries dividing each of the display units in 25evenly spaced columns and 2½ evenly spaced rows. In each of the displayunits, the five evenly spaced columns are defined by the left and rightphysical boundaries of the display unit and for vertical logicalboundaries 600, 602, 604, and 606. For purposes of this description, thehorizontal logical boundaries are identified by the reference numerals700, 702, 704, and 706.

As shown in FIG. 53, the original image 410 is placed on the displayoverlapping the display units 100A and 100C, and within an area definedby the vertical logical boundaries 600 and 606 and the horizontallogical boundaries 700 and 706. Actuation of the snapping function, inthis example, as illustrated in FIG. 54, causes the image 410 to bestretched to fill the grid defined by the vertical logical boundaries600 and 606 and the horizontal logical boundaries 700 and 706. In thisexample, the original aspect ratio is not preserved. Paragraphadditionally, as noted above, a “grid” can be defined by a combinationof physical and logical boundaries. As shown in the example of FIG. 55,the original image 410 is disposed entirely within the display unit 100Aand within a grid defined by the upper edge of the display unit 100A,the horizontal logical boundary 702, the right edge of the display unit100A and the vertical logical boundary 604. Upon actuation of thesnapping function, as illustrated in FIG. 56, the image 410 is stretchedto fill the grid defined as noted above.

In the description set forth above, it is disclosed that the display 100can be configured to perform the snapping functions described above. Inthis context, it is to be understood that this phrase is intended tomean that the display 100, the control mode 102, or any other computeror workstation or processor communicating with the display 100 caninclude one or more modules, control routines, or software, designed toperform these functions.

FIG. 57 illustrates a control routine 800, which can be stored orcontained in any of the above noted locations, for providing at leastsome of the functionalities described above. As shown in FIG. 57, thecontrol routine 800 can begin with an operation block 802. The controlroutine 800 can be caused to begin by any predetermined input from auser, such as those noted above as optional ways in which the snappingfunction can be triggered. After the control routine 800 begins atoperation block 802, the control routine 800 can move to operation block804.

In operation block 804, the edges of a grid closest to the edges of theoriginal image can be determined. For example, with regard to any of theabove described examples in FIGS. 7-55, a calculation can be performedto determine the distance between the top, bottom, left, and right edgesof the image 410 to all of the physical and/or logical boundariesdefined in the display 100. Optionally, as noted above, a user can alsochoose to perform the snapping functions with regard to only physicalboundaries, only logical boundaries, or any combination of both physicaland logical boundaries. And thus, the procedures of operation block 804can be performed with reference to only physical boundaries, onlylogical boundaries, or both physical and logical boundaries, inaccordance with the user's choice. After it is determined which of thephysical and/or logical boundaries are closest to the edges of theoriginal image 410, the control routine 800 can move to operation block806.

In the operation block 806, the image 410 can be adjusted to fit thegrid defined by the physical and/or logical boundaries that are closestto the edges of the original image 410. As noted above, if the originalaspect ratio of the original image 410 is not to be preserved, theoriginal image 410 can be shifted in position and/or stretched or shrunkto fit the grid defined above. After the operation block 806, thecontrol routine 800 can end at operation block 808.

FIG. 58 illustrates a control routine 810 that can be used to provideadditional functions described above with regard to the snappingfunction. For example, as shown in FIG. 58, the control routine 810 canbegin with operation block 812. The operation block 812 can be performedin accordance with the description of operation block 802 describedabove with reference to FIG. 57. After the operation block 812, thecontrol routine 810 moves to operation block 814.

In the operation block 814, it can be determined which 3 physical and/orlogical boundaries of the display 100 are closest to the edges of theoriginal image 410. For example, with reference to FIG. 7, the result ofthis determination of operation block 814 would find that the top, left,and bottom edges of the display unit 100D are the closest to the top,left, and bottom edges 520, 522, 524 of the image 410, respectively.After the operation block 814, the control routine 810 and moved tooperation block 816.

With continued reference to FIG. 58, in the operation block 816, theposition and/or proportions of the original image can be adjusted tofill the image to the closest three edges identified in operation block814. For example, as described above with reference to the examples ofFIGS. 7 and 8, the image 410 is stretched such that the top, left, andbottom edges 520, 522, and 524 of the original image 410 conform to thetop, left, and bottom edges of the display unit 100D, respectively.Additionally, the position of the right edge 526 of the image 410 is aresult of the above noted stretching of the original image 410, whilepreserving the original aspect ratio. After the operation block 816, thecontrol routine 810 can move to operation block 818 and end.

FIG. 59 illustrates an embodiment of a control routine 900 that can beexecuted to position an image on an arrayed display system (e.g., tileddisplay system 100) including at least two discrete display devices. Insome embodiments, the control routine 900 can be used to provide atleast some of the snapping functions described above. In oneimplementation, the control routine 900 is performed by any of the nodes(e.g., control node 102 and/or any of display nodes 100A-100N) of thetiled display system 100. In general, the control routine 900 can beperformed by any processor or processors. The control routine can beginwith operation block 902. In some embodiments, the control routine 900begins with the detection of a user input.

In operation block 904, input from a user is received through one ormore user input devices (e.g., mouse, keyboard, button, track ball,touch screen, microphone, remote control, and/or the like). The userinput defines an initial image position of an image on the array in anorientation overlapping at least two of the discrete display devices ofthe arrayed display system. Upon receipt of the user input in operationblock 904, the control routine 900 can move to operation block 906.

In operation block 906, a quantitative proximity value representing aproximity of at least a reference portion of the image and a referenceportion of at least one of the discrete display devices can bedetermined. The reference portion of the image can be the centerposition of the image or any of the boundaries of the image. Thereference portion of the discrete display devices can be the centerposition of the individual discrete display devices or any of theboundaries of the discrete display devices. For example, with regard toany of the above-described examples in FIGS. 7-55, a calculation can beperformed to determine the distance between the top, bottom, left,and/or right edges of the image 410 to all of the physical and/orlogical boundaries defined in the display 100. Optionally, as notedabove, a user can also choose to perform the snapping functions withregard to only physical boundaries, only logical boundaries, or anycombination of both physical and logical boundaries. And thus, theprocedures of operation block 906 can be performed with reference toonly physical boundaries, only logical boundaries, or both physical andlogical boundaries, in accordance with the user's choice. Multiplequantitative proximity values can be determined at operation block 906.After one or more quantitative proximity values are determined inoperation block 906, the control routine 900 can move to operation block908.

In operation block 908, an image can be displayed in a predeterminedposition that is different than the initial position based on the one ormore quantitative proximity values determined at operation block 906. Insome embodiments, the initial position of the image is defined by aposition of the reference portion (e.g., a center point of the image)and a stretch value of the image. At operation block 908, the image canbe displayed by altering at least one of the position of the referenceportion and the stretch value of the image. Thus, the initial image canbe modified to be displayed according to the snapping functionsdescribed with respect to FIGS. 7-55. After the operation block 908, thecontrol routine 900 can move to operation block 910 and end.

FIG. 60 is a schematic diagram illustrating embodiments of an imagemanipulator stored on a computer readable medium 100O. The computerreadable medium 100O includes modules that can be executed by any of thenodes 100A-100N, 102 of the tiled display system 100 of FIG. 1 to causeone or more nodes to control the display of images on the tiled displaysystem 100. In some embodiments, the image manipulator is configured toautomatically resize and/or reposition content (e.g., an image) on thetiled display system 100 so that the content aligns, or “snaps” to, oneor more physical or logical boundaries of the discrete display devicesof the tiled display system 100. For example, the image manipulator cancenter the content in a predetermined space or shift the content to oneor more edges of the predetermined space based on the position of thecontent prior to the manipulation, as described above.

As shown in FIG. 60, the image manipulator stored on thecomputer-readable medium can include an image control module 1010, auser interface module 1020, a relative position determination module1030, and a position shift module 1040. The user interface module 1020can be included as a sub-module of the image control module 1010, asshown in FIG. 60, or it can be a standalone module. In some embodiments,the modules are executed by the control node 102. In general, themodules can be executed by one or more processors within one or morecontrol modules or mechanisms. For example, in some embodiments, acontrol module or mechanism can be embedded within the arrayed displaywith touch surface control or gesture-based cameras or sensors.

In some embodiments, the image control module 1010 controls the size andlocation of an image displayed on an array of discrete display devices.The control can be based on manual user input or can be performedautomatically based on a pre-configured default. The user interfacemodule 1020, upon execution, can receive an image position request froma user identifying a requested position and/or size of an image on thearray via a user input device.

In some embodiments, the relative position determination module 1030determines one or more quantitative proximity values representing aproximity of one or more reference portions of the image in a positionon the arrayed display system corresponding to the requested positionand one or more reference portions of at least one of the discretedisplay devices of the arrayed display system. In some embodiments, theproximity values comprise distances between reference points, such ascenter points and/or boundaries. The proximity values can be determined,for example, as described above with respect to operation block 906 ofFIG. 59, and throughout the description.

The position shift module 1040 can, upon execution, shift the positionand/or adjust the size of the image on the arrayed display away from therequested position and toward a predetermined position based on the oneor more quantitative proximity values determined by the relativeposition determination module 1030. In some embodiments, the positionshift module 1040 positions the image on the arrayed display away fromthe requested position of the image toward one of a plurality ofpredetermined positions based on the quantitative proximity valuedetermined by the relative position determination module 1030. In someembodiments, the shift position module 1040 can display the image on thearrayed display as described with respect to operation block 908 of FIG.59 and/or as described with respect to the displays 100 of FIGS. 7-55.For example, the image can be centered within one or more discretedisplay devices, snapped to physical or logical boundaries of thediscrete display devices, or otherwise shifted, and/or can be resizedbased at least in part on the one or more quantitative proximity values.In general, the position shift module 1040 is configured to adapt atleast one of the dimensional and positional parameters of an image toconform to at least one of a physical or logical boundary associatedwith the tiled display. The displayed image can cover an entire displaydevice, multiple display devices, fractional portions of a displaydevice, and/or combinations of whole and fractional portions of displaydevices.

In addition the types of connections and couplings discussed above, anycoupling or connection discussed herein could be a local area network,wireless local area network, wide area network, metropolitan areanetwork, storage area network, system area network, server area network,small area network, campus area network, controller area network,cluster area network, personal area network, desk area network or anyother type of network.

Any of the computers, laptops, server, including the proxy server,control nodes, workstation, or other devices herein may be any type ofcomputer system. A computer system may include a bus or othercommunication mechanism for communicating information, and a processorcoupled with bus for processing information. Computer system may alsoincludes a main memory, such as a random access memory (RAM), flashmemory, or other dynamic storage device, coupled to bus for storinginformation and instructions to be executed by processor. Main memoryalso may be used for storing temporary variables or other intermediateinformation during execution of instructions to be executed byprocessor. Computer system may further include a read only memory (ROM)or other static storage device coupled to a bus for storing staticinformation and instructions for processor. A storage device, such as amagnetic disk, flash memory or optical disk, may be provided and coupledto bus for storing information and instructions.

The embodiments herein are related to the use of computer system for thetechniques and functions described herein in a network system. In someembodiments, such techniques and functions are provided by a computersystem in response to processor executing one or more sequences of oneor more instructions contained in main memory. Such instructions may beread into main memory from another computer-readable storage medium,such as storage device. Execution of the sequences of instructionscontained in main memory may cause a processor to perform the processsteps described herein. In alternative embodiments, hard-wired circuitrymay be used in place of or in combination with software instructions toimplement embodiments. Thus, embodiments are not limited to any specificcombination of hardware circuitry and software.

The term “computer-readable storage medium” as used herein, in additionto having its ordinary meaning, refers to any medium that participatesin providing instructions to a processor for execution. Such a mediummay take many forms, including but not limited to, non-volatile mediaand volatile media. Non-volatile media includes, for example, optical ormagnetic disks, such as a storage device. Volatile media includesdynamic memory, such as main memory. Transmission media includes coaxialcables, copper wire and fiber optics, including the wires that comprisea bus.

Common forms of computer-readable media include, for example, a floppydisk, a flexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, or any other magneticmedium, a CD-ROM, DVD, any other optical medium, punch cards, papertape, any other physical medium with patterns of holes, a RAM, a PROM,and EPROM, a FLASH-EPROM, any other memory chip or cartridge.

Computer systems can send messages and receive data, including programcode, through the networks or other couplings. The received code may beexecuted by a processor as it is received, and/or stored in storagedevice, or other non-volatile storage for later execution.

In general, the word “module,” as used herein, refers to logic embodiedin hardware or firmware, or to a collection of software instructions,possibly having entry and exit points, written in a programminglanguage, such as, for example, Java, Lua, Objective-C, C or C++. Asoftware module may be compiled and linked into an executable program,installed in a dynamic link library, or may be written in an interpretedprogramming language such as, for example, BASIC, Perl, or Python. Itwill be appreciated that software modules may be callable from othermodules or from themselves, and/or may be invoked in response todetected events or interrupts. Software instructions may be embedded infirmware, such as an EPROM. It will be further appreciated that hardwaremodules may be comprised of connected logic units, such as gates andflip-flops, and/or may be comprised of programmable units, such asprogrammable gate arrays or processors. The modules described herein arepreferably implemented as software modules, but may be represented inhardware or firmware, or combinations of software, hardware and/orfirmware. To clearly illustrate this interchangeability of hardware andsoftware, various illustrative components, blocks, modules, circuits,and steps have been described above generally in terms of theirfunctionality. Whether such functionality is implemented as hardware orsoftware depends upon the particular application and design constraintsimposed on the overall system. The described functionality can beimplemented in varying ways for each particular application, but suchimplementation decisions should not be interpreted as causing adeparture from the scope of the disclosure. Generally, the modulesdescribed herein refer to logical modules that may be combined withother modules or divided into sub-modules despite their physicalorganization or storage.

Each of the processes, components, and algorithms described above can beembodied in, and fully automated by, modules executed by one or morecomputers or computer processors. The modules can be stored on any typeof computer-readable medium or computer storage device. The processesand algorithms can also be implemented partially or wholly inapplication-specific circuitry. The results of the disclosed processesand process steps can be stored, persistently or otherwise, in any typeof computer storage. In addition, the modules can comprise, but are notlimited to, any of the following: software or hardware components suchas software object-oriented software components, class components andtask components, processes methods, functions, attributes, procedures,subroutines, segments of program code, drivers, firmware, microcode,circuitry, data, databases, data structures, tables, arrays, variables,or the like.

Conditional language used herein, such as, among others, “can,” “could,”“might,” “may,” “e.g.,” and the like, unless specifically statedotherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, isgenerally intended to convey that certain embodiments include, whileother embodiments do not include, certain features, elements and/orstates. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended toimply that features, elements and/or states are in any way required forone or more embodiments or that one or more embodiments necessarilyinclude logic for deciding, with or without author input or prompting,whether these features, elements and/or states are included or are to beperformed in any particular embodiment.

Although the foregoing description includes certain embodiments, otherembodiments will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art fromthe disclosure herein. Moreover, the described embodiments have beenpresented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit thescope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel methods and systems describedherein may be embodied in a variety of other forms without departingfrom the spirit thereof. Accordingly, other combinations, omissions,substitutions and modifications will be apparent to the skilled artisanin view of the disclosure herein. Thus, the present inventions are notintended to be limited by the disclosed embodiments.

What is claimed is:
 1. A display system including at least one discretedisplay device, the system comprising: at least one discrete displaydevice; a control module configured to allow a user to move a graphicalrepresentation of an image to a plurality of positions on the at leastone discrete display device to thereby define a requested position; thecontrol module being further configured to determine a differencebetween a first distance and a second distance, wherein the firstdistance extends from a first boundary of the image in the requestedposition to a first boundary of the image in a first predeterminedposition of a plurality of predetermined positions on the at least onediscrete display device, and wherein the second distance extends from asecond boundary of the image in the requested position to a secondboundary of the image in a second predetermined position of theplurality of predetermined positions; the control module being furtherconfigured to at least one of move and stretch the image toward one ofthe first predetermined position or the second predetermined positionbased on the determined difference.
 2. The system according to claim 1,wherein the first and second predetermined positions each includefractional portions of the at least one discrete display device.
 3. Thesystem according to claim 1, wherein the at least one discrete displaydevice comprises a first discrete display device and at least a seconddiscrete display device disposed adjacent to the first discrete displaydevice, and wherein the first and second predetermined positions eachinclude fractional portions of one of the first and second discretedisplay devices.
 4. The system according to claim 3, wherein at leastone of the first or second predetermined positions includes one positioncomprising fractional portions of both of the first and second discretedisplay devices.
 5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the firstboundary of the image in the first predetermined position is a top,bottom, left, or right boundary of the least one discrete displaydevice.
 6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the requestedposition is defined by a position of a reference portion of the image onthe at least one discrete display device and a stretch value of theimage.
 7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the control module isconfigured to alter at least one of the position of the referenceportion and the stretch value of the image.
 8. The system according toclaim 3, wherein the control module is connected to the first and seconddisplay devices, the control module comprising a processor and a thirddisplay device, the control module being configured to display arepresentation of an array of discrete display devices and the graphicalrepresentation of the image.
 9. The system according to claim 1, whereinat least one of the at least one discrete display devices comprises thecontrol module.
 10. A method of positioning an image on an arrayeddisplay system including a plurality of discrete display devicesdisposed adjacent one another, the method comprising: receiving an inputfrom a user defining an initial image position of the image on thearrayed display system in an orientation overlapping at least twodiscrete display devices in the plurality of discrete display devices;determining at least a first and a second quantitative proximity values,wherein the first quantitative proximity value represents a firstdistance that extends from a first boundary of the image in the initialposition to a first boundary of the image in a first predeterminedposition of a plurality of predetermined positions on at least one ofthe two discrete display devices, and wherein the second quantitativeproximity value represents a second distance from a second boundary ofthe image in the initial image position to a second boundary of theimage in a second predetermined position of the plurality ofpredetermined positions; determining a difference between the firstquantitative proximity value and the second quantitative proximityvalue; and displaying the image in one of the first predeterminedposition or the second predetermined position based on the determineddifference, wherein the first and second predetermined positions aredifferent than a position corresponding to the initial image position.11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the step of displayingcomprises displaying the image in one of the plurality of predeterminedpositions which include fractional portions of the at least two discretedisplay devices.
 12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the stepof displaying comprises displaying the image in one of the plurality ofpredetermined positions which include fractional portions of one of theat least two discrete display devices.
 13. The method according to claim10, wherein the step of displaying comprises displaying the image in oneof the plurality of predetermined positions which includes one positioncomprising fractional portions of both of the at least two discretedisplay devices.
 14. The method according to claim 10, wherein the firstboundary of the image in the first predetermined position is a top,bottom, left, or right boundary of one of the at least two discretedisplay devices.